The National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS)

The National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) is a laboratory-based system that monitors temporal and geographic circulation patterns (patterns occurring in time and place) of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human parainfluenza viruses (HPIV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), respiratory and enteric adenoviruses, and rotavirus detections. In this surveillance system, participating U.S. laboratories voluntarily report weekly to CDC the total number of tests performed that week to detect these viruses, and the number of those tests that were positive. They also report the specimen type, location, and week of collection. NREVSS allows for timely analysis of data to monitor viral seasons and patterns.

All data graphs on this site were last updated on October 17, 2017

NREVSS was created in the 1980s to monitor seasonal trends in influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In 2007, data collection for rhinovirus, enterovirus, and human metapneumovirus began. Influenza specimen information, also reported to NREVSS, is integrated with CDC Influenza Surveillance. On a weekly basis, participating U.S. laboratories from university and community hospitals, selected state and county public health departments, and commercial entities, voluntarily report the total number of tests performed using any detection method, and the number of those tests with positive results. Reports include virus antigen detections, isolations by culture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results on a weekly basis.

CDC makes NREVSS data available through the graphs on this website to public health professionals, health care providers, and the public. CDC has also periodically published annual summaries and alerts based on NREVSS data in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and in peer-reviewed journals.

We anticipate that NREVSS will continue to play an important role in describing the temporal and geographic circulation patterns of respiratory and enteric viruses—including deviations in the typical annual circulation patterns and identifying viral outbreaks. NREVSS has proven to be a relatively simple and practical surveillance system that has been and will continue to be an important part of CDC’s efforts to treat, prevent, and control respiratory and enteric viral diseases.